Deer dies at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter

Father, son help rescue wounded deer from circling gators

A deer that was taken to Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter after it was nearly eaten by alligators has died.

Tom Berger and his son, Dave, were riding their bicycles when they spotted the deer struggling in the water near the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Preserve.

They saw several alligators lurking nearby, so they called the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers, who rescued the animal.

"The captain put a rope around him, and we were able to drag him out of the water," Dave Berger told WPBF 25 News. "And we just let him sit there for a little bit."

He said the deer's back right leg had a bite wound.

"We saw a part of nature," Tom Berger said. "We knew it was something that if we weren't there, the deer would be eaten by the gator. And it was just fun to watch, and we were hoping the deer would make it OK."